Air Force Institutes Scholarship Program To Train Chaplains

The Air Force has announced the creation of a new religious professional scholarship program, designed to train chaplains in faiths where, at any particular time, there is a shortage of Air Force chaplains Air Force Link reported Monday that the program is open to any commissioned officer or anyone currently enrolled in a commissioning program, such as the Air Force Academy or ROTC. Scholarship recipients will receive tuition grants (presumably for their theological studies), plus stipends to cover certain fees or expenses as determined by Air Force Institute of Technology officials, who are in charge of the academic portion of the program. Scholarship recipients will be required to serve for 8 years. Craig W. Duehring, assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs, said: "This program is a huge step forward in providing qualified chaplains for the Air Force." Currently there is a shortage of Catholic chaplains.